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PAID POPLAR, MT
59255 PERMIT NO. 6
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$1.00
Vol. 38 No. 33 ^ f<*A> PtoL A^iJU^
L.----___21_i_7_j__-__j:
ugust 16,2007
For/ Pec� Tribal Executive Board -
Council meets for several hours on Credit Program
By Lisa Perry Wotanin Editor
The majority of the morning session of the latest full Tribal Executive Board meeting held last Friday, Aug. 10, was spent discussing the Fort Peck Tribal Credit Program.
The TEB had the opportunity to listen to several complaints from community members, who feel they have been discriminated against by the Tribal Credit employees and past Credit Committee
members when applying for loans.
; Tribal Chairman John Morales said he wanted to address the situation as he has been doing everything he can from his office regarding the problems. He said it has come to his attention that the credit program has become a personal bank for a handful of BIA employees.
He said the program is designed for every tribal member, and shouldn't be for a select few individuals. The secretary of the committee,according to the program's
Declaration Plan and Policy of Operation, is suppose to keep records of all the meetings and forward copies to the BIA superintendent and the chairman's office, but to date, that has not been done, along with a copy of the budget.
Morales said it seems that they are trying to hide something by not sharing the information with his office.
In June, the terms for the 3 credit committee members - Pearl Hopkins, Leslie
Gourneau, and Traci Hentges expired.
During that time, Morales temporarily appointed Grace Pipe to the committee for 30 days.
Pipe addressed the TEB and said when she
was first appointed she asked for policies and procedures, so that she can know the guidelines to help her people with loans.
"I asked for the budget, and for a list of the individuals with long and short term loans. I asked several times. But I have never been given anything other than a heart ache," she said.
Pipe stated she has witnessed first hand the rudeness that comes from the credit dept. and how. certain employees talk harshly and rude to our people. "I have never questioned the importance of a loan. As Indian people, there must be a good reason why (it is needed)."
She said she was told that she doesn't have authority as a temporary appointment, even
though the policies state committee members have authority to look at the documents.
"To have the BIA interfering is alarming. The people have basically been
mistreated. Only certain members of the tribe get to eat the cake. The rest get the crumbs, if lucky," stated Pipe.
"I am the the mouth piece for the pitiful people," she said.
Morales said all this has been denied and mentioned he has even heard BIA employees are signing checks. "That alarms me," he said.
BIA superintendent Florence White Eagle, who was sitting in the audience waiting to give her monthly BIA report, was questioned. She said because the committee members are temporary, they are not signatory, which is the reason why they cannot release any of the information requested.
"If they are a temporary committee. They are still the credit
committee, responded Morales. White Eagle said, she hasn't even seen the budget for the program and that it is a revolving loan program.
Councilman Darryl Red Eagle asked how loans can be approved, when individuals still owe on one. "We need to know how much people owe," he said.
Tribal member Levi Olson, who owns 440 acres of land, said he put in for a loan to build a garage but has got nothing but the run around from the BIA for a couple months.
According to Olson, he was told he had to put in for a mortgage to do that, even though he has substantial lease income coming in. So he did, and the Billings Area office sent it back saying the 440 acres of land was more absorbent than what he was asking.
On Page 9 of the Declaration of Polices, states the BIA superintendent has the authority to approve loans under $30,000. "I met with Florence White Eagle ten times on this issue." he said, adding that he has lost all confidence in the BIA Credit Program and sees that it is being run by the BIA and not the tribes. "The BIA employees get all kinds of loans, just on their signature," stated Olson.
He suggested Ft. Peck 638 the program, like other tribes in Montana have done, except for Lame Deer. "The BIA is lying to the tribal membership."
Iris Anderson said the BIA credit dept. change the due date on a loan she made. "Who gives them the right to say when my loan's going to be paid." She also mentioned her brother received a loan, which was due the next month. "The interest
TEB - Page 2
Whitehead sworn into office
William "Bill" Whitehead was sworn into the 12th Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board seat during the TEB full board meeting held last Friday, Aug. 10. The seat was vacant due to the recent resignation of Roxann Bighorn. The next in line to fill the seat would have been Anthony Shields Sr., however, he declined. Tribal Judge Robert Welch sworn in White Head. (Lisa Perry photo)
IHS Regional Director meets with Tribes
By Lisa Perry Wotanin Editor
Three representatives from the Billings Area Office Indian Health Service, including
director Pete Conway, met in a morning long strategic planning
meeting at the Greet the Dawn auditorium last Wednesday, Aug. 8.
The topic of discussion centered on how to get off a "Level 12," and how to address the ongoing alcohol and drug related crimes on the reservation, which are basically eating up all the Contract Health Service (CHS) funds.
Tribal board
members Frank Smith, Darryl Red Eagle, and Tribal Chairman John Morales attended on behalf of the TEB. Morales said the most important issue is the need to get off a Level 12, which means an individual has to be losing their life or limb,
to get referred out for health care.
"I look up to Pete Conway as a leader and asked him how can the tribes can get off Level 12," stated Morales. Conway said the tribes themselves can get off (Level 12) by working together within the communities to ease the burden .....
The Fort Peck Tribes can set the motto to do that within the next 2 years, said Morales.
Fort Peck Tribal Health director James Melbourne stated the tribes have already developed a sense of direction with the recent passing of the Banishment law, which states if an individual is convicted of selling, manufacturing or
transporting illegal drugs by the courts, within the exterior boundaries of the reservation, they will
be excluded from the reservation.
"If they are arrested and convicted they lose the right to live here," he said.
Facilitating the
meeting, was Robert MacAnally, longtime tribal legal advisor, and current Fort Peck Community College Vice President of Academic Affairs. He said the discussion must be constructive. "Everyone has their own opinion of what's wrong. We need to fix the problem by identify the problem," he said.
Pete Conway has promised to work with the tribes, but we are a people, also need tcjdd something too, he said.
Melbourne said they can see the data, as far as prevention. "The whole process is awareness. In
Conway - Page 3
Journal editor arrested for Domestic Abuse, Threatening An Officer
Editor's Note: The following police report was submitted to the tribal newspaper . this week for publication at the direction of the Fort Peck Tribal Chairman John Morales.
Title of Case: FORT PECK TRIBES -VS- BONNIE
CLINCHER
Offense: PROTECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE TRIBAL EXECUTIVE BOARD, JUDGES, TRIBAL AND
FEDERAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, AND DOMESTIC ABUSE.
Location of offense: 308 C ST. EAST
Date of offense: 08/11/07
On August 11, 2007 at approximately 0036 hours I, Ft. Peck Law & Justice Officer Willard White, advised Bonnie Clincher of her Ft. Peck Tribes Miranda Warning and also that she was under arrest for domestic abuse and also protection of members of the Tribal
Executive Board, judges, tribal and federal officers and employees.
On August 11, 2007 at approximately 0020 hours I was dispatched to 308 C St. East on the report of a domestic abuse assault. When I arrived at that resident I was met by Herman Red Elk who told me that his wife, Bonnie Clincher, had struck him in the head with a stack of 200 paper plates still in the cellophane wrapper. The combined weight of the 200 plates weighed approximately 2 lbs.
Herman Red Elk said he was afraid and felt that she would further assault him if she had the chance. While he was explaining to me what had happened, Bonnie Clincher started to rush at Herman Red Elk and told him to "shut the fuck up". Ft. Peck Law & Justice Officer Dan McKee was also on scene and he stepped between Bonnie Clincher and Herman Red Elk. Bonnie started screaming
Bonnie Red Elk Journal Editor
and cussing and tried to physically push her way past Officer McKee. She was saying, "yeah I hit the fucker" and was also telling Herman Red Elk to shut up. She repeatedly told Officer McKee and myself that she had hit Herman Red Elk and that he deserved it and that she would do it again.
I talked to Bonnie Clincher and she started to calm down and I asked her why she had hit Herman Red Elk. She stated she did it because he was an "asshole" and treated
her sons bad. I asked Bonnie Clincher if Herman had hit her and she said no. Herman also said that he had not hit her but only wanted to get away from her and also that he wanted to press charges. Bonnie Clincher then told Herman Red Elk that he better not try to press charges, it would be the last thing he would do. She then said that she could not be charged with domestic because Herman Red Elk weighs 300 lbs and she is only 5 ft. tall.
She then again went after Herman Red Elk and tried to physically force her way past Officer McKee. 1 then advised Bonnie Clincher that she was under arrest for domestic abuse and advised her of her Ft. Peck Tribes Miranda warning. She then said that it was ridiculous that she could be charged with domestic abuse since she was very five
Arrest - Page 2
Chairman's Report
Good afternoon Fort Peck Tribal Members. I have recently been informed about a matter you should be aware of. On August 11, 2007, Bonnie Clincher - Red Elk, Owner, Publisher and Editor of the Fort Peck Journal, was arrested and incarcerated for allegedly domestically abusing her husband (We have been advised that her husband is in a safehouse at a undisclosed location recovering from his injuries).
Ms. Red Elk admitted to the arresting officer that she consumed a couple of bottles of Schnapps between Williston, N.D. and Poplar and that she had hit her husband.
According to the police report, she also threatened a Tribal police officer and his mother, by saying that she would utilize her newspaper to cause the arresting office to lose his job. She also told the officer that his mother better not come back to Fort Peck.
Ms. Red Elk has been charged with domestic abuse and threatening a tribal police officer. (In my opinion she is fortunate that she was not also charged with child abuse and neglect of her one minor child who was apparently present during this incident with her husband).
As the Chairman, I do not want to stoop to Ms. Red Elk's level, but 1 feel it is important for ourt �community to understand how Bonnie feels she can' use her newspaper to intimidate, harm and retaliate against people. I hope the next time Bonnie Clincher - Red Elk begins to throw rocks at other Fort Peck Tribal Members, she remembers that We All Live in Glass Houses. As quoted in every issue of her newspaper, "Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish and conceal not...Jeremiah 50:2".
May God Bless the Fort Peck Tribes.

PRSRT. STD "U.S. Postage
PAID POPLAR, MT
59255 PERMIT NO. 6
*** Jh ***** v PtoL A^iJU^
L.----___21_i_7_j__-__j:
ugust 16,2007
For/ Pec� Tribal Executive Board -
Council meets for several hours on Credit Program
By Lisa Perry Wotanin Editor
The majority of the morning session of the latest full Tribal Executive Board meeting held last Friday, Aug. 10, was spent discussing the Fort Peck Tribal Credit Program.
The TEB had the opportunity to listen to several complaints from community members, who feel they have been discriminated against by the Tribal Credit employees and past Credit Committee
members when applying for loans.
; Tribal Chairman John Morales said he wanted to address the situation as he has been doing everything he can from his office regarding the problems. He said it has come to his attention that the credit program has become a personal bank for a handful of BIA employees.
He said the program is designed for every tribal member, and shouldn't be for a select few individuals. The secretary of the committee,according to the program's
Declaration Plan and Policy of Operation, is suppose to keep records of all the meetings and forward copies to the BIA superintendent and the chairman's office, but to date, that has not been done, along with a copy of the budget.
Morales said it seems that they are trying to hide something by not sharing the information with his office.
In June, the terms for the 3 credit committee members - Pearl Hopkins, Leslie
Gourneau, and Traci Hentges expired.
During that time, Morales temporarily appointed Grace Pipe to the committee for 30 days.
Pipe addressed the TEB and said when she
was first appointed she asked for policies and procedures, so that she can know the guidelines to help her people with loans.
"I asked for the budget, and for a list of the individuals with long and short term loans. I asked several times. But I have never been given anything other than a heart ache" she said.
Pipe stated she has witnessed first hand the rudeness that comes from the credit dept. and how. certain employees talk harshly and rude to our people. "I have never questioned the importance of a loan. As Indian people, there must be a good reason why (it is needed)."
She said she was told that she doesn't have authority as a temporary appointment, even
though the policies state committee members have authority to look at the documents.
"To have the BIA interfering is alarming. The people have basically been
mistreated. Only certain members of the tribe get to eat the cake. The rest get the crumbs, if lucky" stated Pipe.
"I am the the mouth piece for the pitiful people" she said.
Morales said all this has been denied and mentioned he has even heard BIA employees are signing checks. "That alarms me" he said.
BIA superintendent Florence White Eagle, who was sitting in the audience waiting to give her monthly BIA report, was questioned. She said because the committee members are temporary, they are not signatory, which is the reason why they cannot release any of the information requested.
"If they are a temporary committee. They are still the credit
committee, responded Morales. White Eagle said, she hasn't even seen the budget for the program and that it is a revolving loan program.
Councilman Darryl Red Eagle asked how loans can be approved, when individuals still owe on one. "We need to know how much people owe" he said.
Tribal member Levi Olson, who owns 440 acres of land, said he put in for a loan to build a garage but has got nothing but the run around from the BIA for a couple months.
According to Olson, he was told he had to put in for a mortgage to do that, even though he has substantial lease income coming in. So he did, and the Billings Area office sent it back saying the 440 acres of land was more absorbent than what he was asking.
On Page 9 of the Declaration of Polices, states the BIA superintendent has the authority to approve loans under $30,000. "I met with Florence White Eagle ten times on this issue." he said, adding that he has lost all confidence in the BIA Credit Program and sees that it is being run by the BIA and not the tribes. "The BIA employees get all kinds of loans, just on their signature" stated Olson.
He suggested Ft. Peck 638 the program, like other tribes in Montana have done, except for Lame Deer. "The BIA is lying to the tribal membership."
Iris Anderson said the BIA credit dept. change the due date on a loan she made. "Who gives them the right to say when my loan's going to be paid." She also mentioned her brother received a loan, which was due the next month. "The interest
TEB - Page 2
Whitehead sworn into office
William "Bill" Whitehead was sworn into the 12th Fort Peck Tribal Executive Board seat during the TEB full board meeting held last Friday, Aug. 10. The seat was vacant due to the recent resignation of Roxann Bighorn. The next in line to fill the seat would have been Anthony Shields Sr., however, he declined. Tribal Judge Robert Welch sworn in White Head. (Lisa Perry photo)
IHS Regional Director meets with Tribes
By Lisa Perry Wotanin Editor
Three representatives from the Billings Area Office Indian Health Service, including
director Pete Conway, met in a morning long strategic planning
meeting at the Greet the Dawn auditorium last Wednesday, Aug. 8.
The topic of discussion centered on how to get off a "Level 12" and how to address the ongoing alcohol and drug related crimes on the reservation, which are basically eating up all the Contract Health Service (CHS) funds.
Tribal board
members Frank Smith, Darryl Red Eagle, and Tribal Chairman John Morales attended on behalf of the TEB. Morales said the most important issue is the need to get off a Level 12, which means an individual has to be losing their life or limb,
to get referred out for health care.
"I look up to Pete Conway as a leader and asked him how can the tribes can get off Level 12" stated Morales. Conway said the tribes themselves can get off (Level 12) by working together within the communities to ease the burden .....
The Fort Peck Tribes can set the motto to do that within the next 2 years, said Morales.
Fort Peck Tribal Health director James Melbourne stated the tribes have already developed a sense of direction with the recent passing of the Banishment law, which states if an individual is convicted of selling, manufacturing or
transporting illegal drugs by the courts, within the exterior boundaries of the reservation, they will
be excluded from the reservation.
"If they are arrested and convicted they lose the right to live here" he said.
Facilitating the
meeting, was Robert MacAnally, longtime tribal legal advisor, and current Fort Peck Community College Vice President of Academic Affairs. He said the discussion must be constructive. "Everyone has their own opinion of what's wrong. We need to fix the problem by identify the problem" he said.
Pete Conway has promised to work with the tribes, but we are a people, also need tcjdd something too, he said.
Melbourne said they can see the data, as far as prevention. "The whole process is awareness. In
Conway - Page 3
Journal editor arrested for Domestic Abuse, Threatening An Officer
Editor's Note: The following police report was submitted to the tribal newspaper . this week for publication at the direction of the Fort Peck Tribal Chairman John Morales.
Title of Case: FORT PECK TRIBES -VS- BONNIE
CLINCHER
Offense: PROTECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE TRIBAL EXECUTIVE BOARD, JUDGES, TRIBAL AND
FEDERAL OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES, AND DOMESTIC ABUSE.
Location of offense: 308 C ST. EAST
Date of offense: 08/11/07
On August 11, 2007 at approximately 0036 hours I, Ft. Peck Law & Justice Officer Willard White, advised Bonnie Clincher of her Ft. Peck Tribes Miranda Warning and also that she was under arrest for domestic abuse and also protection of members of the Tribal
Executive Board, judges, tribal and federal officers and employees.
On August 11, 2007 at approximately 0020 hours I was dispatched to 308 C St. East on the report of a domestic abuse assault. When I arrived at that resident I was met by Herman Red Elk who told me that his wife, Bonnie Clincher, had struck him in the head with a stack of 200 paper plates still in the cellophane wrapper. The combined weight of the 200 plates weighed approximately 2 lbs.
Herman Red Elk said he was afraid and felt that she would further assault him if she had the chance. While he was explaining to me what had happened, Bonnie Clincher started to rush at Herman Red Elk and told him to "shut the fuck up". Ft. Peck Law & Justice Officer Dan McKee was also on scene and he stepped between Bonnie Clincher and Herman Red Elk. Bonnie started screaming
Bonnie Red Elk Journal Editor
and cussing and tried to physically push her way past Officer McKee. She was saying, "yeah I hit the fucker" and was also telling Herman Red Elk to shut up. She repeatedly told Officer McKee and myself that she had hit Herman Red Elk and that he deserved it and that she would do it again.
I talked to Bonnie Clincher and she started to calm down and I asked her why she had hit Herman Red Elk. She stated she did it because he was an "asshole" and treated
her sons bad. I asked Bonnie Clincher if Herman had hit her and she said no. Herman also said that he had not hit her but only wanted to get away from her and also that he wanted to press charges. Bonnie Clincher then told Herman Red Elk that he better not try to press charges, it would be the last thing he would do. She then said that she could not be charged with domestic because Herman Red Elk weighs 300 lbs and she is only 5 ft. tall.
She then again went after Herman Red Elk and tried to physically force her way past Officer McKee. 1 then advised Bonnie Clincher that she was under arrest for domestic abuse and advised her of her Ft. Peck Tribes Miranda warning. She then said that it was ridiculous that she could be charged with domestic abuse since she was very five
Arrest - Page 2
Chairman's Report
Good afternoon Fort Peck Tribal Members. I have recently been informed about a matter you should be aware of. On August 11, 2007, Bonnie Clincher - Red Elk, Owner, Publisher and Editor of the Fort Peck Journal, was arrested and incarcerated for allegedly domestically abusing her husband (We have been advised that her husband is in a safehouse at a undisclosed location recovering from his injuries).
Ms. Red Elk admitted to the arresting officer that she consumed a couple of bottles of Schnapps between Williston, N.D. and Poplar and that she had hit her husband.
According to the police report, she also threatened a Tribal police officer and his mother, by saying that she would utilize her newspaper to cause the arresting office to lose his job. She also told the officer that his mother better not come back to Fort Peck.
Ms. Red Elk has been charged with domestic abuse and threatening a tribal police officer. (In my opinion she is fortunate that she was not also charged with child abuse and neglect of her one minor child who was apparently present during this incident with her husband).
As the Chairman, I do not want to stoop to Ms. Red Elk's level, but 1 feel it is important for ourt �community to understand how Bonnie feels she can' use her newspaper to intimidate, harm and retaliate against people. I hope the next time Bonnie Clincher - Red Elk begins to throw rocks at other Fort Peck Tribal Members, she remembers that We All Live in Glass Houses. As quoted in every issue of her newspaper, "Declare ye among the nations and publish, and set up a standard; publish and conceal not...Jeremiah 50:2".
May God Bless the Fort Peck Tribes.